internal medicine / general practitioner / family physician

Acid peptic diseases are a collective disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. A general description about its pathophysiology, symptoms, etiology, complications, diagnosis and treatment is given.

Sleep is a barometer of good health in the elderly. Sleep problems in the elderly are controlled by various external and internal factors.

AIDS was first detected in early 1980s, among gays, Haitians and black Africans

Encyclopedia section of medindia explains in brief about the treatment for AIDS/HIV

AIDS defining malignancies are cancers that occur in patients with AIDS due to their low immunity.

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about AIDS

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about HIV Clinical Features

Kaposi sarcoma develops below the skin surfaces or in mucous membranes of mouth, nose or anus and appears as lumps

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about AIDS

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about AIDS information and health education

Encyclopedia section of medindia explains in brief about the prevention for AIDS/HIV

Epidemiologic studies indicate three broad yet distinct geographic patterns of transmission

Describes how screening for HIV is performed in a laboratory.

Air travel is for everyone, even those with medical conditions.

Social drinking amongst women has become a fad. Stop it before it finishes you.

Alcohol and driving do not mix. Drunken driving is the cause of many deaths in the world.

Amoebic dysentery is an infection of the intestine that causes diarrhoea most frequently along with other causes.

The ankle is among the most commonly injured parts of the body. It has to support the entire weight of the body, and is thus extremely vulnerable to injury.

Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis and spreads when the anthrax spores are inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with the skin lesion on a host.

Ageing process has always been an enigma. Recent research indicates that red wine could delay the process.

Recent study affirms the safety of Ondansetron for foetus. The antiemetic drug may safely be prescribed during pregnancy.

Losartan and calcium channel blockers may be preferred in hypertensive patients at a risk for gout.

It's a lung condition characterized by inflammation of the bronchi and constriction of the airways that result in coughing, wheezing or breathlessness. Allergy and other airway irritants can trigger it

Research has proved that uncontrolled asthma can be effectively treated with Lebrikizumab.

Bacillary Dysentery or Shigellosis is a bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract and affects commonly young children.

The ‘battle of bulge’ is the toughest of all battles. Once you put on weight it is so difficult to get rid of it. Here are the best tips to fight off that extra flab.

Blood donation is carried out when a person voluntarily agrees for blood to be drawn with the intention of donating it.

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about blood group

Body mass index (BMI) is a simple tool that is generally used to estimate the total amount of body fat.

Encyclopedia section of medindia explains in brief about the directions of breast feeding

Breast lumps must never be neglected but instead be subjected to medical examination to rule out cancer.

Different stages of breast development in women and an in-depth look at the Bust and its structure.

Bruxism is the unconscious clenching or grinding of teeth, during sleep. Nocturnal teeth grinding is one of the most common sleep disorders

There is more to alcohol than mere intoxication. Infamous because of its social abuse but indispensable because of its many industrial applications.

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about Burns

A recent study claims that seaweeds in diet can reduce blood pressure in preschool children.

Cervical spondylosis is a disorder in which there is abnormal wear on cervical vertebrae.

Do you know how a piece of charcoal can save you from snakebites and poisoning? Read more to know the treatments doctors provide with activated carbon to save lives.

Chikungunya is caused due to a mosquito bites and causes high fever, joint pain and rashes. It is not a killer disease.

Cholesterol is produced by the body (liver) and is essential for normal body functioning.

The word 'Cholesterol' rings danger bells as soon as it is mentioned. This important chemical is important for the normal metabolism of the body and is dangerous only if present in excess.

The causes of chronic fatigue are quite diverse, and vary from simple overexertion to heart disease and cancer.

Information about Chronic fatigue syndrome, or yuppie flu, which is a complex disorder, characterized by extreme fatigue, that seems to affect Americans more than AIDS, multiple sclerosis /lung cancer

Circadian Rhythms are the biological clocks that control the daily lives of every living organism and its disruption cause 'Circadian Rhythm Disorder.'

Transplantation of dopaminergic neurons by stem cells can produce relief for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about Common Cold

Apixaban may be more effective than aspirin in preventing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Computer- related injury (CRI) is a cluster of work-related symptoms in computer users such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), Work Related Upper Limb Disorder (WRULD), and Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD)

Inflammation of the cartilage that joins the ribs to the breastbone is known as Costochondritis. It is one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal chest pain.

Don’t get tempted to stop and start taking prescription medicines at your will. It could be serious. Find out how…

Dengue is the most important mosquito-transmitted viral disease in terms of morbidity and mortality.

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Untreated acute bacterial peritonitis could be life threatening resulting in sepsis and end-organ damage; therefore, prompt treatment is recommended.

High blood pressure or hypertension is defined as a blood pressure of above 140 mm Hg (systolic) and or 90mm Hg (diastolic).

Diet pills are flooding the market by millions. It caters to a large chunk of the pill bazaar and the list of followers is on the rise. Promoted as an easy and effective option to weight loss, it has

Diphtheria, vaccines, sulfa drugs, World War II, Soviet Union, epidemic, immunization, childhood illness, death, strangling angel, Pierre Bretonneau, Greek, leathery, New England colonies, US

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about Drug Toxicity

A number of individual drugs as well as fixed dose combinations are banned in India.

Dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation is the most common of all gynecological disorders. Dysmenorrhea can be primary or secondary

A study that investigated the link between the risk of obesity and the consumption of food groups in children and adolescents.

Facial swelling may appear as a small swelling affecting a part of the face, or a generalized swelling of the face.

Infections are the most common cause of fever. Other causes include drugs, tissue injury, cancers, inflammatory, hormonal, metabolic and genetic diseases.

Intake of 25 g of fiber daily for 12 weeks by patients with high cholesterol, who were well controlled with cholesterol-lowering medications, resulted in decreased phytosterolemia.

The first death due to swine flu in Tamil Nadu this year was recently reported from Coimbatore.

Elderly people are commonly susceptible to fluid and electrolyte balance due to age-related changes, diseases and medications.

Formoterol is found to be effective and safe in the treatment of COPD.

Gastroscopy is a diagnostic test that enables the doctor to look inside of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

Inherited or genetic differences in nicotine clearance rates are associated with cessation rates. Most people want their general practitioners to inform them and would undergo genetic tests by them.

Giant panda blood contains a peptide that can fight drug resistant bacteria and fungi, according to a Chinese study.

Encyclopedia section of medindia explains in brief about Gout

This day, March 20, we celebrate head injury awareness day. This ‘celebration’ acquires specific significance in India, which has the largest annual incidences of head injuries.

A headache literally means ‘pain in the head’. It is a common complaint that may occur frequently in some

Information on the Health Hazards of Smoking Cigarettes, and its effect on Blood Pressure, and general health.

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about Hepatitis A

Hepatitis C is a viral disease that affects the liver. Originally called “non-A non-B hepatitis”, it is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about Hib Vaccine

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives meaning to some of the words, for High Cholesterol, in the glossary

Early use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome may increase in-hospital mortality

Hypermobility Syndrome is a condition in which a person can move his joints far beyond the normal range.

Hyper means “excessive” and somnia refers to “sleep”, so hypersomnia is excessively long or deep sleep despite sleeping for several hours at night.

Hyperventilation occurs when a person breathes in excess to the body’s requirement.

Called also the kissing diesase, Mononucleosis is an infectious disease due to infection with the Epstein Barr virus of the herpes virus family.

Infective endocarditis has been arbitrarily categorized as acute or subacute based on the length of symptoms before presentation.

Difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep is known as insomnia. It is a symptom that occurs due to other disorders and can cause daytime sleepiness.

Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito borne viral disease associated with the inflammation of the membranes of the brain.

Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) refers to the spectrum of infectious disease produced by species of the Leishmania parasite. The parasites spread by the bite of infected sand flies.

It is possible to bring about weight reduction by cutting out fat from the diet, says study.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. People who live in the woods or near grassy areas are prone to Lyme disease

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about Malaria

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about About Malaria Causes

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about Measles

With new discoveries and tremendous research being carried out every day, medical science has reached amazing heights. Here are 14 cutting-edge technologies that are about to change the world.

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about Mosquito Diseases

MRSA infection is the most dreaded hospital or community acquired infection that can become life threatening.

Mumps is a contagious viral infection that typically causes a painful swelling of one or more of the salivary gland.

The drug, naltrexone has the potential to double a man’s chances to quit smoking but does not seem to help women in the same way.

Sleep is the blissful state that rejuvenates our mind and body everyday and any deprivation often leads to a disorder that can affect our health

Mometasone furoate/ formoterol fumarate improves pulmonary function and asthma control similar to fluticasone propionate/ salmeterol. It has a superior onset of action compared with FP/S.

When a person is 20 percent or more over their ideal body weight or if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 or over they are considered obese.

Obstructive sleep apnea should be suspected in overweight middle aged adults who snore loudly and which can cause interruption of breathing for 10 seconds or more and this results in reduced blood o

Organosphosphorus compounds are used as insecticides and chemical warfare. They are easily accessible, thus they are a commonly associated with suicides and accidental poisoning.

Cervical cancer is often caused by an infection with human papilloma virus (HPV).

Educating the patient, the bed partner or care taker is important for the management of Parasomnias

Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a sleep disorder which causes repetitive cramping or jerking of the legs, resulting in disturbance of sleep.

Physical activity plays a role in reducing deaths associated with metabolic syndrome. Though higher level of activity has a better impact even low levels are better than being completely inactive.

A recent article described details of two types of hypotension, postprandial and postural. A brief summary is presented below.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh now has declared that AIDS had to be fought on war-footing as it was becoming a major national problem

Probiotics are live microorganisms that resemble the “good bacteria” in our gut. Science is yet to fully explore the healing potential of probiotics; meanwhile some studies have ruled in their favor.

Q Fever takes its origin from word “query” and is caused by bacteria Coxiella burnetii that infects some animals and is passed on to humans due to inhalation of infected air particles.

Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease which affects domestic and wild animals.

White adolescents are significantly more likely to receive antihypertensive drugs compared with black subjects. Is it race discrimination?

Anti-ageing properties of red wine may not work for obese people, claims new study.

REM Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder in which the person acts out dramatic or violent dreams during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.

Renowned Indian-origin researcher Opendra 'Bill' Narayan, whose work included leading-edge research in producing a treatment for AIDS, passed away on 24 December following a heart attack. He was 71.

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about Respiratory Diseases.

Diabetes is associated with sudden cardiac death, although the exact direct relationship is unclear.

Road accidents are one of the significant causes of disability, injury and death in the world. Every hour, nearly 14 lives are lost due to road accidents in India.

Poor hygienic practices during cooking or handling of food products can cause this distressing infection of the intestines leading to diarrhea, cramps and fever.

Bernie Mac the comedian died of complications arising from Sarcoidosis, a little known immune system disorder.

Colorectal cancer means cancer of the large intestine with symptoms of constipation and stools mixed with blood. The improved Septin 9 methylated DNA blood test is 90% sensitive and 88.7% specific.

Septicemia is a serious illness wherein a patient develops symptoms due to the presence of microbes or their toxins in the blood.

Shigellosis or Bacillary Dysentery is a common cause of gastro-enteritis worldwide and can cause bloody diarrhea (called dysentery).

Sleep is a behavioral state of restricted physical activity. It is controlled by our internal biological clock.

Sleep disorders can either be having difficulty in getting sleep or dozing off at inappropriate time.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes - An urge to move, usually due to uncomfortable sensations that occur primarily in the legs.

Sleepwalking or “Somnambulism,” is a type of parasomnia and has medico-legal implications

Sleep is the blissful state that rejuvenates our mind and body everyday and any deprivation often leads to a disorder that can affect our health

The physical, emotional and hormonal changes that occur in women during puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can cause Sleep Disturbances

Unusual eating habit during the night forms some of the sleep eating disorders and is a type of parasomnia or events during sleep that are undesirable

Sleep Talking, Sleep Terrors and Nightmares are sleep disorders, that commonly occur in children

Encyclopedia section of medindia briefs you about the History of Tobacco

Learn all about stem cells and cord blood banking from Jeevan’s Dr. Saranya Narayan. An interview on the subject.

Stroke can cause permanent disability and it is important to recognize its early warning signs to stop its progress.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is death of a baby, under one year of age that occurs in sleep and cannot be explained.

The Supreme court gave big private hospitals two weeks to come up with a comprehensive plan to give the poor and middle class people free, effective treatment.

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) or Temporal Arteritis is a condition where medium and large arteries especially those supplying the head region get inflamed.

Tetanus (or Lockjaw) is a serious preventable infection that can affect the muscles and nerves and results from contamination of wound. The vaccine against Tetanus can prevent the infection.

Encyclopedia section of medindia explains in brief about Thalassemia

Do your eyes get tired and you suffer from headache while staring at the computer screen for long hours? Here are some tips to help you resolve this issue.

If you follow a healthy lifestyle and still feel tired, you should rule out all possible medical causes of tiredness. These top tips can improve your lifestyle.

Brief overview of a common disease called Toxoplasmosis and its risks in human population

Treatment of back pain may be more effective in terms of outcome as well as cost if a stratified approach is adopted for the treatment.

Sleeping sickness or Trypanosomiasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease which can trigger life threatening complications in the absence of treatment

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about Typhoid and Paratyphoid Enteric Fevers

Unintentional weight loss is often a consequence of physiological or psychological disorders and should be promptly investigated.

Stem cell therapy, a leading topic of interest among the budding scientists. These cells play a role in the development of personalized medicines for millions of cancer and heart patients.

Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels of the body that can affect people of all ages; it is usually due to an autoimmune disorder

von Willebrand''s Disease (vWD) is an autosomal dominant inherited bleeding disorder that occurs from birth and affects both sexes.

Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about Water Borne Diseases

Weight loss drugs regulate weight either by altering appetite, the metabolic rate or absorption.

Maintaining a food diary and keeping a track of what you eat is the best way to keep your weight under check.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2008, ‘Lead – Empower – Deliver’ calls out to all leaders to take it up as a priority issue and spearhead the cause of AIDS.

The objective of World AIDS Day 2009 campaign is to provide universal access and basic rights to HIV prevention, treatment and support embodied in its theme - ‘'Universal Access and Human Rights”.

World AIDS Day, is an opportune time to increase awareness, improve funding and activate prevention measures with special attention on countries with high prevalence of HIV-AIDS.

World AIDS Day which falls on December 1st, 2011, is a perfect time to boost awareness, increase funding, combat stigma, improve education and kick-start prevention strategies.

The World Asthma Day is observed every year in May to increase public awareness of asthma.

The United Nations' (UN) World Population Day is observed on July 11, 2011. This day seeks to stress the importance of family planning, maternal health, gender equality, poverty, and human rights.